This article is just to give you a sampling of North Indian style temple architecture. It is not meant to give comprehensive background of each temple, nor a comprehensive list of all temples. Will be adding more of the more prominent temples as time permits :)

Akshardam, Delhi

Ajantha Caves

Kailash Temple, Ellora

There are many Hindu temples that are megaliths, often carved directly into a mountain side, but the Kailash temple (dated approximately 8th century CE) is built by entirely carving/chiseling your way into the ground from top-down into one monolithic rock. It is estimated that around 400,000 tons of rock was carved out in the making of this temple.

Imagine, doing this 1,200 years ago, with nothing but chisel and hammers, and imagine the mathematical knowledge needed for the architectural planning and design. One small mistake, if you start chiseling off by just one degree, and it would be a joke like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Khajuraho

The Vishvanatha Temple in Khajuraho, completed around 1002 CE. Source: WikipediaOrnate pillars in Khajuraho. Source: vacationindia.comSource: remotetraveler.comThe walls of Khajuraho is replete with expressions of human nature… among which the biggest tourist attraction are the erotic sculptures like the one shown here.

This is just one of many erotic sculptures found in Khajuraho. Many Hindu temples, have erotic sculptures, but much more PG-rated, not as x-rated as you’ll see in Khujaraho. You can imagine the vexation, disbelief, and blasphemy that Muslim and Christian invaders felt when they saw this, that too in a place of worship, not being able to understand that sexual expression is considered sacred in many traditions in Hinduism (in contrast with Islam and Christianity it was taboo). More importantly, erotic figurines on the walls are just one aspect of human nature, that the hundreds of figurines represent.